Iranian foreign Minister in surprise visit to G7 meeting

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived Sunday in the French city of Biarritz, where a G7 summit of world leaders is taking place, for talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Zarif’s visit immediately raised questions about whether he would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump or members of his administration, who have ratcheted up pressure on Tehran, but the minister’s spokesman said there would be no meetings or negotiations with U.S. officials during the trip.

Tension between Iran and the West has risen in recent years over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, its missile programs and its role in Syria.

Mr Zarif, who went straight into talks with French officials after his surprise arrival on an Iranian government Airbus, showed up as French President Emmanuel Macron attempted a high-risk diplomatic gambit to defuse a confrontation that has brought Iran and the United States to the brink of war. 

His presence caused immediate confusion in diplomatic circles, with a White House official saying that Donald Trump, who dined with other G7 leaders in Biarritz on Saturday night, was not informed in advance.

Mr Trump’s administration placed Mr Zarif under sanctions last month. 

But a French diplomatic source said Mr Macron informed Mr Trump of the Iranian foreign minister’s visit when the two presidents had lunch on Saturday. Mr Macron then told the other leaders during dinner on Saturday night.

“There was a very substantial conversation among the G7 leaders,” the source said.  The source added that the French and Iranian foreign ministers were also discussing “regional issues and Iran’s missile programme”.

“We are working in total transparency with our US partners,” he said. Angela Merkel said she was only informed shortly before Mr Zarif arrived. 

Via Politico / Telegraph